**1. JOHN A. GROSSMAN, M.D., director and founder of GROSSMAN PLASTIC SURGERY: "The recent partial face transplant is another example of just how far science can go. However, there must be a compelling reason to warrant this kind of surgery, such as a massive burn or severe disfigurement. For most people, the face is the most personal piece of recognition and self- identity. Altering it completely can be extremely traumatic. There are also medical issues with rejection of the tissue and exposing the patient to anti- rejection medication. If a facial transplant is performed for primarily aesthetic purposes, it amounts to little more than showboating and grandstanding, rather than responsible medicine."

**2. ANDREW A. JACONO, MD, FACS, surgical director of the NEW YORK CENTER FOR FACIAL PLASTIC AND LASER SURGERY: "Major facial reconstruction can take dozens of operations to remove tissues from other parts of the body and graft them to the face, with a 'mask-like' face as a result. The possibility of face transplanting offers hope to such patients. Small muscle fibers, vessels and several cranial nerves must be carefully reattached. Although gross facial movements are possible, precise facial expressions are unattainable. The face survives after transplant with modern immunosuppressive medicine. He or she cannot go out in public without a sense of shame and isolation. The hope of this surgery outweighs the potential risks."

**3. DR. ANTHONY GRIFFIN, M.D. F.A.C.S. of the BEVERLY HILLS COSMETIC SURGERY INSTITUTE: "Face transplants are an outstanding part of the future of plastic surgery. We have the technology and will use it. However, the ethical debate as to whether or not it is appropriate will continue to rage on." Through his years of satisfying patients and pioneering safer surgery techniques, Griffin has become one of the foremost authorities on plastic surgery. He stars on ABC's "Extreme Makeover," which features his signature techniques. He is also considered an authority on plastic surgery for skin of color. Griffin is highly recognized for his scar-free surgery and scar-prone safe surgical techniques, and is an author on the subject. His surgeries have also been featured on CNN, Time Magazine, The Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel and more, and he has been featured as a general expert and commentator on E! Entertainment Television and shows like "Access Hollywood."

**1. JOSEPH A. SKELTON, M.D., program director of the NEW Kids Program at CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF WISCONSIN, which is an innovative, multidisciplinary program for managing complications of childhood obesity: "We are seeing great success in treating overweight children and adolescents by focusing on the family, not just the child. I blame the toxic environment in which American children are immersed -- busy lifestyles and aggressive marketing of food products with little or no nutritional value -- as contributing to the obesity epidemic."

**2. DR. CAROLYN ASHWORTH is author of "Defeating the Child Obesity Epidemic: A Pediatrician (and Mom) Tells How to Fight Fat, Save Your Children," which tackles the national health epidemic of children's expanding waistlines and unhealthy lifestyles head on. Ashworth can outline the serious medical consequences that accompany obesity and help families fight fat with kid-friendly exercises, menu ideas and tips on following nutritional guidelines. Ashworth, currently in private practice, is the president of the Patient-Physician Network of Plano, Texas, and a former chief of staff of the Medical Center of Plano.

**3. HOSPITALS: COMMUNICATION PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN PATIENT SAFETY. RICHARD FITZPATRICK, CEO of THE LANGUAGE ACCESS NETWORK: "There are nearly 28,600 preventable deaths each year in U.S. health care facilities directly correlated to a lack of proper communication between patient and caregivers, and that issue increases as 18 percent of the U.S. population speaks a language other than English at home and 11 million Americans don't speak English at all. The need for a better, more effective system of communication in our health facilities has become critical. Communication plays a critical role, both in patient comfort and in patient safety. But it is not efficient for hospitals to have hundreds of interpreters on staff." The Language Access Network has created the use of language interpretation services through the use of interactive, real-time video technology available for hospitals 24 hours a day, translating more than 180 different languages in real-time from a centralized video call center.

**4. MENTAL HEALTH: FEELING BLUE? DON'T LET THE SEASON GET YOU DOWN. DR. RICHARD BROWN, M.D., associate clinical professor of psychiatry at COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY's College of Physicians and Surgeons and co-author of "Stop Depression Now," can suggest mood-boosting tips for the cold, dreary holiday season: "By engaging in physical activity such as yoga, avoiding unhealthy eating habits, and trying a natural supplement to lift low mood, one can maintain their spirits through the tough winter holiday season with a holistic approach."

**5. MENTAL HEALTH: BEATING THE WINTER BLUES. DR. GREG KORGESKI, assistant professor of psychology at ARGOSY UNIVERSITY/TWIN CITIES, is available to discuss and provide helpful tips to combat depression and anxiety during this long winter season: "Many people suffer from a range of conditions that involve feelings of depression, sad mood, and lack of energy during the winter months and the holiday season. It helps to remain active, to get outdoors, to have as much sunlight as you can and to exercise. Making an extra effort to engage in pleasant activities can help -- the very fact of 'pushing yourself' when you'd rather just stay glum is a proven technique for mood improvement."

**6. MENTAL HEALTH: LAW ENFORCEMENT BEING FORCED TO BECOME MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS. MARY T. ZDANOWICZ, Esq., executive director of the TREATMENT ADVOCACY CENTER: "Air marshals have a job to do, as do police officers and sheriff's deputies. Across the country, law enforcement officers are increasingly being forced by a weak system to become front-line mental health workers. That is because the mental illness treatment system is designed to require failure before someone can get help. In most states, someone must be 'dangerous' before the courts can intervene to order them to get treatment. That results in deadly encounters. People with mental illnesses are nearly four times more likely to be killed in altercations with law enforcement than the general public."

**7. NURSING: SIMMAN, SIMBABY ENHANCE NURSING EDUCATION. LINDA SIKTBERG, director of the School of Nursing at BALL STATE UNIVERSITY: "Lifelike artificial humans are helping nursing students learn how to treat patients. SimMan and SimBaby are high-fidelity simulators with rubbery skin, pulse points, chests that swell with each breath and replaceable skin that allow students to practice IVs. During classroom scenarios, nursing students learn how to monitor SimMan and SimBaby, who will continually get worse and die if they receive no treatment. The devices allow the students to see firsthand the satisfaction of making right decisions and the consequences of making wrong ones."

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